How Your Feet Change Over Time

It’s time for the calendar to turn over again! Though it feels like the “Y2K panic” was just yesterday, the new millennium just keeps pushing on. Here we are, at the doorstep of 2017.

Time is not always a friend to our body. As the years go by, we may notice more twinges here and pains there – and the feet are no exception. Here are some things that can affect the aging foot, and your guide to which ones might need some attention from Dr. Heidi M. Christie and Dr. Chandra L. Day-Houts, the expert podiatrists at Montgomery Foot Care Specialists in Montgomery, AL.

Weight gain

Our feet are already challenged to carry us around, bearing our full weight with each and every step. Adding more weight increase the challenge, and sometimes our feet cry out in pain – in the form of flattened arches, stretched plantar fascia leading to plantar fasciitis, and tendonitis, to name a few. Extra pounds can also force you to change the way you walk which can affect the bones and joints of your feet.

Arthritis

Most of our patients suffer from some form of arthritis as they get older – usually osteoarthritis, also known as “wear and tear” arthritis. With this type of arthritis, the cartilage that cushions your joints wears down and the bones are left hitting each other, causing pain. Osteoarthritis can make walking difficult, but our staff has many ways to ease your pain, including medications, braces, and orthotic devices.

Smaller fat pads

As we grow older, we tend to lose the nice cushioning effect of the fat pads underneath our feet. Fat pads get thinner with age, leaving our feet susceptible to pain and soreness, especially if we’re walking on hard surfaces a lot or wearing shoes with thin soles.

Keeping your feet in top shape as you age can be difficult, but there are many ways our podiatry office can help you. We suggest that you

Get your foot measured regularly – don’t assume your foot size stays the same over time